There are 2 forces acting on the lever. The force acting on a short arm with a length of 0.1 m is 3N
There are 2 forces acting on the lever. The force acting on a short arm with a length of 0.1 m is 3N. What should be the length of the second arm, on which a force of 1N acts, for the lever to be in balance?
L1 = 0.1 m.
F1 = 3 N.
F2 = 1 N.
L2 -?
When the lever is in equilibrium, the moments of forces that act from opposite sides of the lever are equal to each other: M1 = M2.
The moment of force M is the product of the applied force F to the smallest distance from the line of action of the force to the axis of rotation of the lever L: M = F * L.
The smallest distance from the line of action of the force F to the axis of rotation of the lever is called its arm L.
F1 * L1 = F2 * L2.
The length of the second arm will be determined by the formula: L2 = F1 * L1 / F2.
L2 = 3 N * 0.1 m / 1 N = 0.3 m.
Answer: In balance, the larger lever arm is L2 = 0.3 m.